New York Minute: Minimum wage is in the works, but dollar amount still unsettled

Gov. Andrew Cuomo proposed a $142.6 billion budget on Jan. 22. Lawmakers are in the final days of trying to negotiate a spending plan.The Associated Press

Syracuse, N.Y. -- Gov. Andrew Cuomo is in Albany today, along with the three other men in a room to talk state budget.

Lawmakers are holding public budget meetings and working through a few floor votes. The New York State Senate is taking up a bill that would require the state to issue tax refunds within 30 days. The New York State Assembly may vote to allow a high school student to serve on village boards.

And, just in time for baseball season, Alliance Bank Stadium will get a new name today. (Opening day is April 12.)

Albany
Cuomo and state lawmakers used a message of necessity to rush the NY Safe Act through Albany. What other emergency-style legislation speeds through the capitol? Same-sex marriage, brownfield clean up tax breaks, some years the entire state budget. We have the entire list for you.

State lawmakers make moves to cut at least $150 million from one of Cuomo's favored funds: the Regional Economic Councils.

With the NY Safe Act's mental health provisions going into effect on Saturday, state officials released a video to help providers understand how to abide by the law while confronting the VA's contention it won't abide by the new rules.

Susan Arbetter speaks truth about Albany: “This place is like an onion,” she said. “Every couple of months I feel like I get one layer into the onion. It’s slow and painful and there’s a lot of crying."